Sky Dive

I know that I am bragging just a little bit when I say that last year I did a sky dive to raise money for Parkinson’s. I had seen it mentioned in the Parkinson Magazine and thought that is for me. With help from my local Parkinson group I set about raising the money to pay for the sky dive itself and the extra for our local group.

There were some very generous people about and I managed to raise about £1500, I think most people thought I was completely barmy so they dug deep into their pockets.

First I had to get the consent of my G.P. He pointed out to me that at my age if I broke any bones they would take longer to mend, and in extreme cases people had died while doing a sky dive. I told him I still wanted to do it, he said there was no reason why I couldn’t and to call back in a few days for the certificate which then cost me £18 but that did include VAT.

The day of the sky dive was amazing from start to finish, clear blue skies so you could see forever. Family and friends came to watch and it was the oldest and the youngest that wanted to join me, my Dad who was 90 and my Grandson of five. Neither had any chance because of age, so no one stole my thunder.

I had this briefing where I signed my life away, what to do and what not to do I do. I remember being told that if I felt sick I was to tell the guy I was tethered to, I think that was so that he could get out of the way.

When I looked out of the plane door for a fleeting moment I thought ssssssssh------------------- or something like that, but once I was out oh how good it was to falling through the skies, I have been asked if I would do it and the answer must be yes, except for one thing there must be so many other things that I could do.

One of the things I would love to do is walk the Great Wall of China; I know I would have to get very fit to manage it. So here goes I will try and aim for next year 2011.

I think that means less of what I am doing now sitting at my computer eating chocolate.

Thanks for Reading

Here am I sat at my computer typing my thoughts on Parky, and feeling nicely cocooned in my own little space. So it’s truly amazing that this Blog is being read all around the world.

I may be exaggerating just a bit, many thanks to all who take the time to read my ramblings.

The best thing that has happened to me is being able to use my computer; it has given me the tools to make my life better. I have slowly over the last eight years found more and more things that I can use it for.

I make cards for family and friends, I have even done mail merge for my Christmas card envelopes. Then there is lots of ways to play around with pictures, and of course my family tree.

By far the biggest asset is that I can type instead of write, as my writing had got to the stage that it was so small that no one had any idea what I had written.

One of the first signs of Parkinson’s is that your writing gets smaller, I never thought about this before but perhaps these people who can write for example the Lord’s prayer on the back of a postage stamp have Parkinson’s.

Double Act

I have come to the conclusion that Parky is as much of a problem to those around me as he is to me, so maybe in writing this I can get a better view of Parky’s relationship with them.

I live with him twenty four seven, I have no say in that, but of course any one I meet has to realise that  Parky and me are a double act.

Gosh, a double act, can’t be Fred and Ginger, nor even Morecambe and Wise. I think we will have to be on a par with the two Ronnie’s (4 candles). Sorry anyone reading this out of the U.K. it’s an in joke.

For a lot of people the name Parkinson’s disease conjures up a dreadful picture.  I think mostly because of the DISEASE bit, who wants anything to do with that.

We are all a bit wary of medical problems, so the thought of a family member or a friend having something that is a disease is a bit scary.

What do you say to them?

“You poor thing” doesn’t help a bit.

I am extremely lucky that most people on meeting me have no idea that Parky is lurking in the background. When explaining that due to Parkinson’s there are things I have difficulty with, the usual comment is, but of course you are in the early stages, NO but they have certainly improved the medication.

Whoops alarm on phone has gone off again, must be pill popping time. I looked on a dating site to find that one of the questions was do you do drugs, YOUR DARN COCO RIGHT I DO, but how do I explain mine.

Dancing

I have always loved dancing I don’t care what sort when the music starts I need to dance. When I was in my teens I used to go to the local village halls and dance all night hardly sitting down at all.

Then I got married to husband no1, his idea of dancing was wait till the bar shut and stand on the dance floor waving your arms around like a windmill needless  to say I would find someone else to dance with and pretend I didn’t know him.

Then there was husband no2. He said that men only danced so they could fondle a woman, but I am sure it was more that he couldn’t and didn’t want to show himself up. He was very jealous so to look around for another male to dance with was a complete no no. The only way I got to dance was if my brother was around and we would have a jive.

I go through fazes when I go line dancing and that’s great until the dances get a bit too complicated. Getting the signals going round my body is an absolute nightmare, the heavy boots provided by Parky makes me want to cry.

I have three lady friends that I go on holiday with, just for fun I booked us in at Butlins for a 60’s weekend, we had a great time. But unfortunately the thing I remember most was going to dance and Parky had my feet, I think he also had my legs, so I was handbag lady I had a good time, but I would have killed just to be able to dance like I did all those years ago in the local village halls.

Hi I have just been told that I am on the Parkinson's twitter page. WOW

Medication

Good morning, I have taken my handful of pills, so maybe today I can escape from Parky. I have my mobile set as an alarm to remind myself to take my pills, which is well and good if I get the first on time, otherwise I have to remember to add a bit of time to make up for it. I think I know what I am talking about.

You would think that as I have been on medication for about eight years that I would be on automatic pilot when it came to remembering to have it with me when I go anywhere. No, I am constantly having to rush home or at least go to people homes where I have a few stashed.

After starting to write this blog this morning, and being super confident that I was in control of ParkyI. It has now hit me that I feel a bit strange, sort of not in control of my limbs so just to be on the safe side I thought I had better see how many pills I have left for today.

Bum, Bum, Bum I have done it again, it’s now two and sat looking at me is the twelve o clock one, I CAN’T BELIEVE IT

Shopping

Well I have seen Parky’s Neurologist, and I was right he is a very nice man, I took my daughter with me or should I say she took Parky and me, I let her drive, she likes to look after me. She told him about this blog, so that is all I will say about him.

We spent a very pleasant day and other than car park and food I didn’t spend anything. My addiction to shopping must have been on hold. (It’s not me it’s Parky!!!!!!!!!)

I have great difficulty resisting bargain rails, in fact it is a well known among my family and friends that if I am lost in a store  they just head for the sale racks and there I am, nothing is as satisfying as finding that article of clothing that has been reduced and then reduced and maybe reduced again. It does of course help if it is in my size.  

But one of the best things is to find a good quality garment with a good named label in it in a charity shop. I can then convince myself that I am helping a good cause, and if the item is not right I will be able to re donate it.

On an outing with my brother I even spotted a three piece suite that would look great in his room, which it did, but we had to rush home and sell the one he had. He is not sure if he wants to go shopping with me again.

Neurologist

Today I have an appointment with my Neurologist, Well I think it is Parky’s not mine. If Parky didn’t exist I would not be getting up early and traipsing 30 miles to be told everything is as before and to see him in 9 months time.

I am not complaining as Parky’s Neurologist is a very nice man, and as I go to see him it leaves me in no doubt that I have this condition called Parkinson’s disease.

Why it was ever called a disease I don’t know, do you catch it? Is it in the air? Does it give you spots? Can you pass it on? I have never found any of these things to be true, so don’t worry all my family and friends  - Parky’s mine.

That’s enough for now better get myself washed and spruced up, can’t let anyone think that Parky is getting the better of me and turning me into a slob.